In a speech to mark the event, Persad-Bissesssar said The Human Development Report, prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a group of experts, “challenges the Governments of the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean to stand up, take notice and take action if we want to provide safer societies and enabling communities for our citizens.”
She said while the report acknowledges advances made since the 1960s it also notes that despite these advances, several Caribbean countries continue to be affected by high levels of violent crime and also by social violence, both of which significantly hinder social cohesion and the developmental process.
Persad-Bissessar said regional states must be guided by the findings of the report, the central message of which is the need for the necessary transformation of the relationship between citizen and state, and the adoption of a citizen-centred approach to security.
“This constitutes a fundamental shift from the state-centric status quo, and this shift is absolutely essential for the developmental process.
“True development involves the extension of the range of human choice; this can only obtain where fundamental rights and liberties are respected and upheld. The report provides good practices, which are based on the concept of citizen security and which therefore address the roots of crime and violence, the Prime Minister said.
She described the report as presenting a comprehensive analysis of the effect of insecurity, fear and violence on human development within the unique Caribbean context as well as a detailed blue print for the path ahead to reduce the impact of violence on the regional states.
Speaking about her government’s approach to dealing with the problem Persad-Bissessar explained that the National Development Policy is framed within seven interconnected pillars, one of which is National and Personal Security – Human Security for Peace and Prosperity.
She said the government has followed a path to development that is much in line with the recommendations of the Caribbean Human Development Report.
“We have mirrored the report’s recommendations, which focus on reducing victimisation, reducing risk and building youth resilience, controlling street gangs and organised crime, transforming the police, reforming the justice system and building capacity for evidence based policy,” she said.
“National and personal security has been a critical area for our country for some time and my Government is fully aware that Trinidad and Tobago will not be able to achieve its true potential unless law and order, and security of the person and of property are addressed in a sustainable manner which upholds the interests of all citizens.
“We have recently performed a comprehensive review of our Draft National Security Policy, which addresses the scourge of crime and criminal activity and the strategic guiding principles for dealing with these challenges.
“As an outcome of this review, we have sought to synchronise the National Security Policy with the 2012-2017 Ministry of National Security Strategic Plan,” she said.
The Prime Minister said in this regard the government has a busy agenda with respect to Legislative and Criminal Justice Reform, noting that at least 12 bills have been taken to Parliament, all aimed at creating the infrastructure to deal with the crime problem.
“This legislative package forms part of overarching efforts to overhaul the justice system in Trinidad and Tobago, to reduce the backlog in our courts and minimise further delays to the administration of justice.
“The reform of the justice system is also aimed at rebalancing the system in favour of the victims of crime, with emphasis on protection for the rights of victims, witnesses and jurors. Under the intended reforms in criminal justice, we also aim to improve on sentencing policies and to achieve a more effective use of detection and investigative technology,” she stated.
“My Government acknowledges that a reduction in crime, criminal activity and violence is directly related to prevention, detection, prosecution and conviction rates and therefore we will continue to build capacity within our preventive, policing and judicial services,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar said her government has created the Ministry of the People and Social Development and the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development to better address the needs and challenges that more vulnerable citizens face.
“My Government has also developed and implemented several social intervention programmes in the heart of our communities especially our ‘at risk’ communities…there are already in train a number of projects which are consistent with some of the recommendations of the Caribbean Human Development Report 2012,” she said.
She said a crime prevention initiative targeting specific communities has contributed in the past three years to a 37.5 per cent decrease in sex offenses; a 24.4 per cent decrease in assaults and shootings and a 32.4 per cent decrease in murders in the initial 22 targeted communities.
She also made note of the National Mentorship Programme of the Ministry of National security, which was launched in April 2011. The programme pairs young persons who may lack strong, positive role models in their lives with caring adults who offer guidance and support to young people with the aim of deterring anti-social behaviour and building a cadre of youth who may later take on the reins of leadership in the communities.
“Overarching all these endeavours is the innovative 21st Century Policing Initiative which feeds into all Programmes of the Ministry of National Security.
“This initiative is set to transform our Police Service into a world class, law enforcement organization which will vastly improve citizen security and the quality of life for all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Through this Programme we anticipate, among other results, improved response for service, higher visibility in communities, management accountability, more effective investigations and of course, a solid reduction in crime rates,” the Prime Minister said.
Persad-Bissessar urged Governments to take on the roles of neighbour, friend, parent, and adviser through a varied complement of social intervention programmes to ensure that all its citizens enjoy a life of dignity and security.
She said leaders in the region have the power and the ability to rise above the survey results presented in the UNDP report and positively change the statistics of the region.
“We must recommit as Governments to provide greater citizen security to our populations. Ours is a region of great promise. We must not let fear, violence and insecurity undermine the strides we have made since Independence…
“If we are to enjoy peace, prosperity and the realisation of the full potential of our peoples we must move as one united force – civil society, government, police and individuals - bound in trust, co-operation and committed to each other for the improvement in the standard of living of all citizens of our nation and our region,” she said.
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